Michael Scott | February 22, 2019
2019 Moto2 and Moto3 Results, Jerez Moto2 Test. — A howl of Triumph Triple exhausts brought the first Moto2 tests of the year to a tense climax, with ultra-close times and riders’ reports of more flexibility of corner line promising as close racing as ever, with potentially more variety than the Honda-powered Moto2s they replace.
But it was the expected names at the top. Ex-Moto3 champion Brad Binder seized control on the third day, his Red Bull KTM just seven-thousandths of a second faster than revived former title challenger Sam Lowes’s Gresini Kalex.
American Racing’s Iker Lecuona (KTM) was whisker-close in third, ahead of 2018 race winner Luca Marini SKY VR46 Kalex.
More title contenders were ultra-close, with Lorenzo Baldassarri (Pons Kalex) and day two leader Alex Marquez (VDS Kalex) in the next two spots.
But it was class rookie Nicolo Bulega an impressive seventh-fastest, on the second SKY VR46 Kalex; with Jorge Navarro (Speed Up), Remy Gardner (SAG Kalex) and another rookie, Moto3 champion Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM) rounding out the top ten.
Joe Roberts (American Racing), the only US rider in any class, was 18th. He spoke highly after his switch to KTM and just 0.724 of a second down.
There were 20 riders within the first second, with the last of them Dominique Aegerter on the all-new MV Agusta.
2019 Moto2 and Moto3 Results, Jerez Moto2 Times
2019 Moto2 and Moto3 Results, Jerez Moto3 Test. — KTM held the high ground in a more widely spaced Moto3 pack, with most of the best times coming on Friday morning. Jaume Masia and Bester Capital KTM teammate Andrea Migno took first and third, sandwiching returned Moto2 bad boy Romano Fenati’s Snipers Honda.
Masia’s margin was large, however, almost seven tenths clear; and only the top eight were within a second.
Day two leader Aron Canet, who switched from Honda to Sterilgarda KTM, was fourth. He was less than a tenth clear of Albert Arenas (Angel Nieto KTM). Tony Arbolino (Snipers Honda), the day one pace-setter, was third.
2019 Moto2 and Moto3 Results, Jerez Moto3 Times
For more MotoGP news and results, click here
For more Road Racing news and results, click here